Arianespace is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2005, marking a new milestone for the world's first commercial launch services company that was created in 1980.
Providing launch services that meet the market’s needs
Throughout its quarter-century of operation – and in a competitive environment that is increasingly difficult – Arianespace has distinguished itself by developing solutions that meet the market’s needs, today and tomorrow. Arianespace has at its disposition a complete launch family of European Space Agency vehicles: Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega. Associated with it is mission assurance capacity offered through Arianespace’s participation in the Launch Services Alliance, which brings together the availability of Ariane 5 with the Sea Launch and H-IIA vehicles.
As a result of its innovative policies, Arianespace has maintained the leadership position and is no. 1 in launch services solutions.
Technical consolidation
In 2004, three Ariane 5 Generic missions were performed by Arianespace, successfully launching the Rosetta spacecraft on a trajectory to encounter a comet, orbiting the Anik F2 satellite (the world’s largest telecommunications platform ever launched) and lofting the Helios 2A reconnaissance satellite. In parallel, Arianespace moved forward with the preparation of the next mission with its heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA – which is scheduled on February 11. This will be followed by five other Ariane 5 missions that also are planned for 2005.
For the future operations of Soyuz from the Guiana Space Center, construction activities on the new launch site moved into full swing in 2004. Concerning the launcher itself, the Soyuz 2-1a version made its successful maiden flight on November 8, and the Soyuz 2-1b is expected to be launched in mid 2006. For commercial operations performed under the responsibility of Starsem, three Soyuz missions are planned from Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2005.
The Vega program also is moving forward, with development work on this lightweight launcher progressing in 2004 for a maiden flight of the vehicle in 2007.
Another key event in 2004 was the first launch assigned by Arianespace to Sea Launch in the framework of the Launch Services Alliance – for which mission preparations were carried out in record time to respond to the customer’s requirements.
Financial reinforcement adds to Arianespace’s strength
Following historic decisions taken by the Council of the European Space Agency, Arianespace now has the means to meet its commercial goals.
With its streamlined staff, the company has received a key vote of confidence from its 23 shareholders, which – as promised – committed to a recapitalization at the level of 60 million euros.
These actions allowed Arianespace to sign a contract for the production of 30 Ariane 5 launchers and to confirm its participation in the project to bring Soyuz operations to the Guiana Space Center.
In 2004, Arianespace’s turnover reached approximately 700 million euros, keeping the company in the black for another year.
Commercial successes during 2004
In 2004, Arianespace once again confirmed its position as the world’s leading commercial launch services company, signing 12 contracts: eight for Ariane 5 and four involving launches with Soyuz. In addition, Arianespace’s Starsem affiliate signed 2 contracts for Soyuz missions.
As of January 4, 2005, Arianespace’s backlog stands at 40 satellites to be launched (35 for Ariane 5 – of which nine are with the ATV resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station; 3 Soyuz missions from the Guiana Space Center, and 2 Soyuz flights from Baikonur Cosmodrome). The Starsem backlog stands at 5 satellites to be launched.
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